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Text -- Job 12:4 (NET)

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Context
12:4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, I, who called on God and whom he answered– a righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: SCORN | Prayer | Persecution | MOCK; MOCKER; MOCKING | LAUGHTER | LAUGHING-STOCK | Job | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Job 12:4 - -- Even by my religious neighbours, by those who call upon God, and not in vain; whose prayers therefore I covet, not their reproaches.

Even by my religious neighbours, by those who call upon God, and not in vain; whose prayers therefore I covet, not their reproaches.

Wesley: Job 12:4 - -- I, who, notwithstanding all their hard censures dare still own it, that through God's grace I am an upright man.

I, who, notwithstanding all their hard censures dare still own it, that through God's grace I am an upright man.

JFB: Job 12:4 - -- The unfounded accusations of Job's friends were a "mockery" of him. He alludes to Zophar's word, "mockest" (Job 11:3).

The unfounded accusations of Job's friends were a "mockery" of him. He alludes to Zophar's word, "mockest" (Job 11:3).

JFB: Job 12:4 - -- Rather, "I who call upon God that he may answer me favorably" [UMBREIT].

Rather, "I who call upon God that he may answer me favorably" [UMBREIT].

Clarke: Job 12:4 - -- I am as one mocked of his neighbor - Though I am invoking God for help and salvation, yet my friends mock me in this most solemn and sacred work. Bu...

I am as one mocked of his neighbor - Though I am invoking God for help and salvation, yet my friends mock me in this most solemn and sacred work. But God answereth me

Clarke: Job 12:4 - -- The just upright man is laughed to scorn - This is a very difficult verse, on which no two critics seem to be agreed. Mr. Good translates the fourth...

The just upright man is laughed to scorn - This is a very difficult verse, on which no two critics seem to be agreed. Mr. Good translates the fourth and fifth verses thus: -

"Thus brother is become a laughing-stock to his companions

While calling upon God that he would succor him

The just, the perfect man, is a laughing-stock to the proud

A derision amidst the sunshine of the prosperous

While ready to slip with his foot

For a vindication of this version, I must refer to his notes. Coverdale gives at least a good sense. Thus he that calleth upon God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neighboure: the godly and innocent man is laughed to scorne. Godlynesse is a light despysed in the hertes of the rich; and is set for them to stomble upon. The fifth verse is thus rendered by Mr. Parkhurst: "A torch of contempt, or contemptible link, (see Isa 7:4; Isa 40:2, Isa 40:3), לעשתות leashtoth , to the splendours of the prosperous (is he who is) ready ( נכון nachon , Job 15:23; Job 18:12; Psa 38:17) to slip with his foot."The general sense is tolerably plain; but to emendations and conjectures there is no end.

TSK: Job 12:4 - -- one mocked : Job 11:3, Job 16:10, Job 17:2, Job 17:6, Job 21:3, Job 30:1; Psa 22:7, Psa 22:8, Psa 35:16; Mat 27:29; Heb 11:36 calleth : Job 16:20; Psa...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Job 12:4 - -- I am as one mocked of his neighbour - There has been considerable variety in the interpretation of this verse. The general sense is, that Job f...

I am as one mocked of his neighbour - There has been considerable variety in the interpretation of this verse. The general sense is, that Job felt himself to be a mere laughing-stock for his neighbors. They treated him as if he were not worth regarding. They had no sympathy for him in his sorrows, and they showed no respect for his opinions. Dr. Good understands this and the following verses as a part of the controversy in which Job proposes to show his skill in debate, and to adduce proverbs after the manner of his friends. But it is more probably an allusion to himself, and is designed to state that he felt that he was not treated with the respect which was due to him. Much difficulty has been felt in understanding the connection. Reiske contends that Job 12:2 has no connection with Job 12:3, and that Job 12:11-12, should be interposed between them. The connection seems to me to be this: Job complains that he was not treated with due deference. They had showed no respect for his understanding and rank. They had urged the most common-place topics; advanced stale and trite apothegms, as if he had never heard them; dwelt on maxims familiar even to the meanest persons; and had treated him in this manner as if he were a mere child in knowledge. Thus, to be approached with vague common-places, and with remarks such as would be used in addressing children, he regarded as insult and mockery.

Who calleth upon God, and he answereth him - This phrase has given occasion to great variety in the interpretation. Umbreit renders it, "I, who once called upon God, and he answered me;"that is, I, who once was a happy man, and blessed of God. Schultens renders it, "I, who call upon God,"that is, for trial, "and am ready to answer him.’ Rosenmuller supposes that Job has reference to the assurances of his friends, that if he would call upon God, he would answer him, and that in view of that suggestion he exclaims, "Shall a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor call upon God, and will he answer him!’ The probable meaning is, that he had been a man who had had constant communion with God. He had been a favorite of the Almighty, for he had lent a listening ear to his supplications. It was now a thing of which he might reasonably complain, that a man who had enjoyed such manifest tokens of the divine favor, was treated with reproach and scorn.

Poole: Job 12:4 - -- As one mocked of his neighbour Heb. I am a derision (the infinitive being put for a noun, as is usual both in the Hebrew and other languages) to m...

As one mocked of his neighbour Heb. I am a derision (the infinitive being put for a noun, as is usual both in the Hebrew and other languages) to my neighbour , i.e. to these three, who have pretended and would be thought to be my friends and neighbours; whom therefore such carriage doth very ill become. Instead of supporting and comforting me, they make a sport and scorn of me.

Who calleth upon God, and he answereth him This who belongs either,

1. To Job, who here declares his own practice in this case: When you mock me, I go to God with my complaints and prayers, and he hears me, though you will not. But this seems not to agree either with the context, or with other passages of Job; in which he constantly complains that God did not hear nor regard his prayers, nor pity and help him. Or,

2. To Job’ s friends; and so this is either,

1. An aggravation of their crime, that they should mock him who made a great profession of religion, who used duly to call upon God, and to receive answers from him, and therefore should have carried themselves more piously, and charitably, and compassionately towards their miserable brother. Or,

2. As the reason of their mockage of Job, because God, who neglected Job’ s prayers, heard theirs, and gave them those mercies for which they prayed; and therefore being themselves well and at ease, they were hard-hearted towards their poor afflicted brother, as the manner of men is. This seems to suit well with the following verse. Or,

3. As all argument against their scorning or slighting of him: God hears you when you pray, therefore you should turn your mocks of me into prayers for me; and you should pity me, whom God doth not hear when I pray; and as God hears you, so you should hear and comfort me, when I pour out my complaints to you. But these words may be brought in mimetically, as being some of their scoffing words: They say of me, Let him call upon God, and God will hear him ; for so they had suggested to Job, Job 5:8 8:5 11:13 . But this, saith Job, I take for a piece of mockery, and insulting over my miseries; for I know by sad experience, and they see the contrary, that though I call and cry again and again, yet God hath no regard to me.

The just, upright man is laughed to scorn i.e. I, who, notwithstanding all their hard censures and reproaches, must and dare still own it, that through God’ s grace I am a just and upright man, am derided by them. This he repeats again, because it was very grievous and burdensome to him.

Haydock: Job 12:4 - -- Mocked. He retaliates on Sophar, (chap. xi. 3.; Haydock) who had very seriously exhorted Job to call on God, as if he had been ignorant of this duty...

Mocked. He retaliates on Sophar, (chap. xi. 3.; Haydock) who had very seriously exhorted Job to call on God, as if he had been ignorant of this duty. (Calmet) ---

God will one day force the wicked to retract their false notion, in despising his servants, Wisdom v. 3. (Worthington)

Gill: Job 12:4 - -- I am as one mocked of his neighbour,.... That is, according to Sephorno, if I knew not, or denied those things you have been speaking of concerning G...

I am as one mocked of his neighbour,.... That is, according to Sephorno, if I knew not, or denied those things you have been speaking of concerning God, his immensity, sovereignty, and wisdom, I should be derided by all my friends and acquaintance; but rather the sense is, Job instances in himself as a proof that good men are afflicted by God in this life; he was once in a very prosperous condition, when he was caressed by all, but now was fallen into such low and miserable circumstances as to be the scorn and contempt of his friends and neighbours; and even his being mocked was no small part of his afflictions; to endure cruel mockings has been the common lot of good men in all ages, and is reckoned one part of their distresses and sufferings for righteousness sake, Heb 11:36; and to be mocked by a neighbour, or a "friend" g, as it may be rendered, greatly aggravates the affliction, see Psa 55:12; which was Job's case; his friends that came to comfort him mocked at him, at least so he understood them, and interpreted what they said unto him, see Job 16:20; and what made it still the heavier to bear, he was mocked by such a neighbour or friend,

who calleth upon God, and he answereth him; he was mocked at not by profane men only, but by a professor of religion, ong swept away with the flood, were cast into hell, where they have lain ever since, and will lie unto the judgment of the great day; between the place of the damned, and of the happy, in Abraham's bosom, is a great gulf, that there is no passing from one to the other, which is the immutable and unalterable decree of God, which has fixed the everlasting states of men, Luk 16:26.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Job 12:4 The two words, צַדִּיק תָּמִים (tsadiq tamim), could be understood...

Geneva Bible: Job 12:4 I am ( b ) [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he ( c ) answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn. ( b ) He r...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Job 12:1-25 - --1 Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him.7 He acknowledges the general doctrine of God's omnipotence.

MHCC: Job 12:1-5 - --Job upbraids his friends with the good opinion they had of their own wisdom compared with his. We are apt to call reproofs reproaches, and to think ou...

Matthew Henry: Job 12:1-5 - -- The reproofs Job here gives to his friends, whether they were just or no, were very sharp, and may serve for a rebuke to all that are proud and scor...

Keil-Delitzsch: Job 12:4-6 - -- 4 I must be a mockery to my own friend, I who called on Eloah and He heard me; A mockery - the just, the godly man. 5 Contempt belongs to misfort...

Constable: Job 4:1--14:22 - --B. The First Cycle of Speeches between Job and His Three Friends chs. 4-14 The two soliloquies of Job (c...

Constable: Job 12:1--14:22 - --6. Job's first reply to Zophar chs. 12-14 In these chapters Job again rebutted his friends and t...

Constable: Job 12:1--13:20 - --Job's repudiation of his friends 12:1-13:19 Verse 2 is irony; his companions were not as...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Job (Book Introduction) JOB A REAL PERSON.--It has been supposed by some that the book of Job is an allegory, not a real narrative, on account of the artificial character of ...

JFB: Job (Outline) THE HOLINESS OF JOB, HIS WEALTH, &c. (Job 1:1-5) SATAN, APPEARING BEFORE GOD, FALSELY ACCUSES JOB. (Job 1:6-12) SATAN FURTHER TEMPTS JOB. (Job 2:1-8)...

TSK: Job (Book Introduction) A large aquatic animal, perhaps the extinct dinosaur, plesiosaurus, the exact meaning is unknown. Some think this to be a crocodile but from the desc...

TSK: Job 12 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Job 12:1, Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him; Job 12:7, He acknowledges the general doctrine of God’s omnipoten...

Poole: Job 12 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 12 Job’ s answer: his friends’ self-conceit: the miserable always despised, though upright; the wicked prosper, Job 12:1-6 . God...

MHCC: Job (Book Introduction) This book is so called from Job, whose prosperity, afflictions, and restoration, are here recorded. He lived soon after Abraham, or perhaps before tha...

MHCC: Job 12 (Chapter Introduction) (Job 12:1-5) Job reproves his friends. (Job 12:6-11) The wicked often prosper. (Job 12:12-25) Job speaks of the wisdom and power of God.

Matthew Henry: Job (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Job This book of Job stands by itself, is not connected with any other, and is therefore to...

Matthew Henry: Job 12 (Chapter Introduction) In this and the two following chapters we have Job's answer to Zophar's discourse, in which, as before, he first reasons with his friends (see Job ...

Constable: Job (Book Introduction) Introduction Title This book, like many others in the Old Testament, got its name from...

Constable: Job (Outline) Outline I. Prologue chs. 1-2 A. Job's character 1:1-5 B. Job's calamitie...

Constable: Job Job Bibliography Andersen, Francis I. Job. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. Leicester, Eng. and Downe...

Haydock: Job (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF JOB. INTRODUCTION. This Book takes its name from the holy man, of whom it treats; who, according to the more probable opinion, was ...

Gill: Job (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB This book, in the Hebrew copies, generally goes by this name, from Job, who is however the subject, if not the writer of it. In...

Gill: Job 12 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB 12 In this and the two following chapter Job makes answer to Zophar's discourse in the former; who having represented him as an...

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